‘Slurpware’ Comes to the Internet

CYBERSPACE — Internet security professionals have given a name to the latest type of online threat and that name is “Slurpware.”

Following on the heels of “phishing” and “spam,” the new term describes a new type of online fraud that involves defrauding e-commerce companies and financial institutions of massive amounts of money.

“Slurpware requires a community of trusted users, phishing mail, password slurping malware and sponsorship of the Russian Mafia,” Gartner research director Jay Heiser told TechWeb News. “It’s when all the effective Internet attack elements come together to potentially steal a lot of money.”

Heiser said that slurpware attacks involving thousands of emails and keylogging have previously hit sites like eBay and Paypal.

“The viability of simple passwords on e-commerce sites won’t be viable much longer,” Heiser said.

Instead, according to Heiser, online companies are going to start moving toward hardware-based authentication systems, such as the one recently implemented by AOL for small business owners.

Using a pager-sized hardware device created by RSA Security Inc. that displays six-digit codes every minute, customers must read the code and then input it in order to access email, calendars, stock portfolios and AOL’s Bill Pay service.

According to Heiser, the United States is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of implementing hardware-based authentication systems, but it is widely needed.

A recent survey conducted in Britain’s Liverpool Street Station found that 71 percent of office workers were willing to trade their computer password for a chocolate bar.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

Nebraska’s unicameral legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

APClips Names Avery Jane 'Creator of the Month'

APClips has named Avery Jane its Creator of the Month for March.

JustFor.fans Offers Gumroad Users Platform to Sell NSFW Artwork

JustFor.fans (JFF) is offering Gumroad users a platform to sell NSFW artwork after the latter banned adult content.

Show More